‘They do look majestic’: tears and pride as first white storks set free in Cornwall

• UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has allocated $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to aid Colombia. • The funding is designated to support the humanitarian response following a devastating earthquake that struck the region.

• A declassified Pentagon report reveals that U.S. military operations in Yemen resulted in the deaths of 153 civilians last year. • Tensions rise in the Middle East as firefighters accuse Israeli forces of starting wildfires in Southern Lebanon, while MSF condemns an Israeli blockade of essential supplies as a "policy of attrition."

England received only 10% of its average July rainfall and some areas may just get the odd shower for rest of AugustEngland has experienced its driest July since records began in 1836, receiving only 6.5mm of rainfall – 10% of the country’s long-term meteorological average for the month. Wales also experienced its driest-ever July, while Northern Ireland recorded it was its eighth driest. Scotland was the only country in the UK not to set new records but still received only 69% of its average rainfall for July compared with the long-term average. Southern England has faced the worst of the dry conditions with some areas, including the Sussex coast, receiving less than 0.2mm of rain in July. This has resulted in widespread low moisture content within the soil, enabling temperatures to reach the high 30s celsius.Looking ahead, despite notable spells of rain in the north, parts of southern England may receive only the odd shower for the rest of August. Throughout summer, forecast models have hinted at more unsettled weather reaching the south-east of England at a 10-day range. However, as time edged closer the rain was largely been confined to north-western parts of Britain, failing to reach the south-east with any significance. With much uncertainty within forecast models, the risk of this dry period persisting is not out of the question. Continue reading...

The Reform UK leader forced a vote that failed to make financial questions disappear, only the man himself• Clacton byelection – UK politics liveDawn had long broken in the Essex town of Clacton-on-Sea when the results for the byelection came in. After a gruelling count, an atmosphere of deep exhaustion had settled over the room. Even the man with a dustbin on his head looked weary.As it was declared that Nigel Farage had, as expected, won, there was no cheering in the room, which had been boycotted by the Reform UK leader and his supporters; instead there was only an overwhelming sense of futility. Continue reading...

Reform UK leader’s return to Clacton restarts inquiry into £5m gift from cyrpto-billionaire and support from fraudsterThe suspended parliamentary standards investigation into Nigel Farage over accusations he failed to declare gifts and donations has resumed after the Reform UK leader’s re-election as the MP for Clacton.The twofold investigation by Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, was paused after Farage resigned from his seat and called a byelection in protest at what he said was unfair scrutiny of his finances. Continue reading...

ABS data shows an almost 9% slump in new lending to investors after three interest rate hikes this yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIn what one economist is describing as a “tiny step” toward a fairer housing market after decades of bad policy, property investors are shying away from established homes, and putting money into new builds instead, new data shows.New lending to property investors fell sharply in the three months to June, slumping almost 9%, ABS data showed, while the number of total new home loans dropped by 5.4% in the June quarter. Continue reading...

Greens say Labor’s reform set to ‘rip life-changing supports away from disabled people instead of raising additional revenue through taxing gas exports’Crossbenchers have slammed the Albanese government’s proposed overhaul of the NDIS as going “too far, too fast” as the changes to curb the growth of the $52bn program appear set to pass the parliament as early as next week.The Greens and independent ACT senator, David Pocock, delivered scathing assessments of the bill they warn will enable blunt and indiscriminate cuts to individual budgets supporting more than 770,000 Australians with disabilities in a final Senate inquiry report released on Friday afternoon. Continue reading...

Four people taken to hospital in Stourbridge, West Midlands with 500 people evacuated in southwest FranceFour taken to hospital and homes damaged in West Midlands firesUK prime minister Andy Burnham also responded to the wildfire in West Midlands, saying his thoughts are with everyone affected.“I’m in touch with local leaders like [West Midlands Mayor] Richard Parker and will be speaking to emergency services on the ground as they continue their response.Our firefighters are working in incredibly difficult conditions and putting themselves at risk to keep others safe. A huge thank you to them and everyone supporting the effort tonight.”“Please stay safe and follow their advice.” Continue reading...

Independent Education Union ‘deeply concerned … public funding for Catholic schools may have been wrongfully spent on Liberal party matters’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe union for independent school teachers in New South Wales has demanded greater scrutiny of Catholic schools as the chief executive of their governing body told a corruption inquiry payments to a lobbying firm were not a “sham arrangement” to fund Liberal party factional work.Dallas McInerney insisted to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Friday that Catholic Schools NSW funding wasn’t misused. Continue reading...

Joyce Thomas faces being forced to leave country after losing appeal against deportationBritish widow, 78, told to leave Sweden under Brexit rulesThe 78-year-old British widow threatened with removal from Sweden after 21 years has said she has been left feeling sick with worry after being told she had lost an appeal against deportation in a ongoing row over the country’s handling of Brexit.“I am in shock. I feel sick. An individual’s life is at stake at my age. It is hell. I have done nothing wrong. I don’t take anything from this country. I am self sufficient, I put money in this country, have no criminal record,” said Joyce Thomas from her home in Sweden on Thursday. Continue reading...

Preliminary findings show fan blade broke off shortly after takeoff on 10 July flight from Greece to GermanyBroken engine parts were responsible for shattering a window on a Ryanair plane, causing a passenger to be partly sucked out mid-flight in July, US investigators have said.A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found an engine fan blade broke off shortly after takeoff on the 10 July flight from Greece to Germany. Continue reading...